Federal aid bill expected to pass
Nearly $2 billion in federal student-aid funds for the 1975-76 academic year are included in a $33-billion appropriations bill now before Congress. The bill’s chances of passage are considered good.
“It’s extremely important that Congress fund these federal student aid programs,” Pamela Walbom. director of financial aid said.
“I urge students to write to their congressmen to support this legislation.” she said.
USC will receive close to $12 million from the government during the 1974-75 school year.
Next year’s allotment is expected to increase if Congress approves present legislation.
Although both the Senate and House versions ofthe bill allow substantial funding of the Basic Opportunity Grants
Program established in 1972. they also continue two older programs former President Richard M. Nixon had sought repeatedly to phase out.
They also increase funding for the College Work-Study Program, $50 million above Nixon's budget request Feb. 4.
The bill provides money for the Departments of Labor and Health. Education and Welfare for 1974-75. (Student-aid funds, although included as part of this budget, will actually be spent in 1975-76.)
Differences between the two versions ofthe bill must now be settled by a Senate-House conference committee and then approved by both houses before it is sent to President Ford.
Appropriations committees in both houses kept the total amount for student-aid
programs within Nixon’s last budget requests.
But, as in two previous years, they cut the amount requested for basic grants and continued the Supplemental Opportunity Grants Program and the National Direct Student Loan Program, of which USC will receive close to $3 million this year.
W’albom estimates that the university will receive a total of $600,000 in Basic Educational Opportunity Grants this year.
“That’s a high amount considering that Congress has usually funded less than 50% ofthe total financial need for colleges nationwide.” Walbom said.
An estimated $1,191,504 was appropriated to the university for work-study. 70% of which came from federal funds.
Nixon and HEW officials
argued that student-aid funds' should be channeled directly to the needy student —through basic grants —rather than through educational institutions, as in the case of supplemental grants and direct loans, which carry
3% interest.
The Nixon administration
asked $1.3 billion for basic grants in 1975-76. The House voted June 27 for a bill containing only $650 million for basic grants; the Senate voted Sept. 18 for a bill with $685
million.
On the other hand. Nixon
requested nothing for supplemental grants and only
$6.5 million for direct loans.
Both houses voted $240.3 million for supplemental grants, but differed on the amount for direct loans. The House approved $338.5 million for direct loans; the Se- ) nate. only $286 million. /
(Continued on page2^/
Daily §§ Trojan
Vol. LXVII, No. 37
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Wednesday, November 6, 1974
PAC to vote on tuition increase; calender reform
BV MARJIE LAMBERT
Assistant Kditor
The President's Advisory Council will vote today on tuition, calendar and salary recommendations. at what could be the group's most important meeting of the year.
The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held at 2:15 p.m. in Founders Hall 129.
The Resource Management and Planning Committee of PAC will make recommendations on tuition, faculty and staff salaries, and raises for teaching assistants.
The Commission on Calendar Reform presented a report at the last meetingofthe council, recommending a change to an early semester if the council believed that the benefits out-
weigh the potential risks.
The Resource Management and Planning Committee has recommended a raise in tuition equal to the increase in the Consumer Price Index, up to 13% for the Los Angeles area, for the calendar year 1974.
The recommendation came after the committee sent the original 10% recommendation of the Commission on Tuition and Fees back to the commission, saying that a 10% hike would not be adequate.
A 10% hike would raise tuition by $290 to $3,200 for students in most schools. The 13% hike would be a raise of $380.
The student members of the Resource Management and Planning Committee, who unanimously opposed the cost-
Prospective donor for child-care center found
The university has found a prospective donor for a childcare center that university staff, faculty and students could use.
Until information regarding a proposed site is available and surveyed by the Property Management Office, the decision regarding the prospective donor’s decision on providing some type of financial assistance will not be available.
University officials and the Property Management Office are looking for university land and land in the surrounding area for the proposed center.
The center would be designed to accommodate 57 children, ranging from ages two to five. This would be about twice the stated need of the university.
An estimated 145-foot by 150-foot lot would be needed for the center. A staff of one director. two teachers and three aids would also be needed.
“I don’t know whether it is realistic or not. but I would really love to have a center up and going for some kind of child care available for September. 1975,” said Virginia M. Zoitl. assistant director of Student Administrative Services.
“I’ve only been at USC 10
years, and this is the fastest I’ve seen anything move,'' said Zoitl. the convener for the Women’s Caucus that has been a major force in trying to establish a dav-care center for the university.
Recommendations for a child-care center were made to President John R. Hubbard after a survey of staff, faculty and students with small children revealed the need for full-time day care.
“The day-care center has really been a major concern to people and it has been received very enthusiastically.” said Zoitl. “Many people have expressed their concern."
In fact, two people have already offered their help for the center, she said.
The committee has looked into other university day-care centers for suggestions on how to run a center.
One major mistake found at other day-care centers was infant care. Children from ages two months to two years present additional legal requirements for a center, so it has been suggested that the day-care center for USC be for children ages two to five.
of-living recommendation, have filed a position paper with the council which will be presented at today’s meeting.
The position paper recom-mendsthatthecouncil adopt the original 10% recommendation of the tuition commission, saying that the Consumer Price Index is applicable only to urban wage earners and clerical workers and not to the university.
The resource committee has also forwarded a report to the council, recommending that teaching assistants receive an immediate retroactive raise of 5% for the 1974-75 school year.
The report of the Commission on Calendar Reform suggests adoption of an early semester system whereby the fall semester would begin around Sept. 8 and run for 14 weeks. Finals would end by Dec. 23.
The spring semester would begin about Jan. 20. and would run 14 or 15 weeks, with finals ending in mid-May, giving students a jump on the job market.
There are however, financial risks involved in this plan. The commission studied nearby colleges which implemented the early semester plan and found that attrition over the normal break between semesters increased from 0% to 4% over the usual attrition rate.
The commission suggested that the university might create a contingency fund of $500,000. which is the amount the university would lose in tuition payments if attrition increased 2% over the usual rate.
Registration envelopes
Envelopes requesting registration material for the springsemester are available at the Registrar’s Office for currently enrolled students.
The deadline for turning in the envelopes for early registration is Nov. 22. Students must put 30 cents postage on the envelope and return it to the Registrar's Office in Student Administrative Services. Room 2.
INDESCRIBABLY DELICIOUS—President John R. Hubbard joined Trojan Hall diners for supper Monday night as the invited guest of Nick Conway, the head resident of Marks Tower. Hubbard had a pork chop, two potatoes, string beans and milk. He was accompanied by James R. Appleton, vice-president for student affairs. DT photo by Ed Moy.
2 security officers lose jobs for neglect of duties
Two Campus Security officers have lost their jobs because of poor performance of duty.
John Lechner. director ofCampus Security and ParkingOperations, asked that the men remain anonymous.
Both officers, who joined the force this year, were still on probation at the time of their dismissals. Lechner said.
One officer assigned to the medical campus resigned after he was reportedly caught drinking on duty.
“We had information that he was drinking, and he chose to resign rather than accept another assignment with Campus Security," Lechner said. “Anybody with a .38 revolver has no business tipping the bottle.”
The officer was a 57-year-old retired policeman.
The other officer was a 33-year-old former undercover narcotics officer who worked for the state of California. He had previously worked as a lrSC security officer before taking a higher paying job with the state, Lechner said.
“He had performed very well here.” Lechner said.
The officer was fired because he didn't report immediately the $77 he found in an open desk drawer while checking a university building.
The officer reported the incident later, saying the university had tried to set him up to steal the money, Lechner said.
“1 wouldn't say he was paranoid, but he did feel the university was out to get him. I’d say he was overcautious in not reporting the money right away and in not calling in other officers to help him count it,” he said.
Campus Security has a 45% turnover in officers each year, Lechner said. An officer makes about $700 a month.
“Less have left since the double homicide. I think they suspect a pay raise is coming," Lechner said.